We, the undersigned parents and community members, respectfully call on the City and the Board of Education to work together to restore Silvermine’s Dual Language Program this year and to ensure that two full-time Spanish teacher positions for 4th and 5th grades are prioritized, sustained, and protected in the upcoming and future budgets. Silvermine’s proven 50–50 language immersion model—one English and one Spanish teacher per class—was changed without notice to parents or to the School Governance Council (SGC). With the SGC sidelined and no public meeting records for 2024–2025, important budget and program decisions were made without transparency or collaboration—contradicting the principles of shared governance and accountability required under Connecticut law. These changes diminish the quality of bilingual instruction, jeopardize years of student progress, reduce students’ preparedness for middle school dual-language programs, disregard parents’ right to participate in educational decisions, and compromise the trust families placed in Silvermine’s Dual Language commitment. Although 4th and 5th graders have a stronger Spanish foundation than younger students, they are still developing bilingual proficiency and must continue receiving full Spanish instruction. Supplemental or art-based Spanish exposure cannot replicate the outcomes of daily immersive teaching essential for true bilingual mastery. Restoring full-time Spanish teachers for 4th and 5th grades is both feasible and essential. Enrollment levels remain stable, and this year Silvermine welcomed a native Spanish teacher and a certified Spanish teacher, is hiring a Spanish interventionist, and currently has three certified Spanish teachers assigned to 3rd grade. Additionally, two certified Spanish teachers were recently transferred out of Silvermine. These facts demonstrate that with genuine commitment and thoughtful planning, restoring these positions is entirely achievable. Silvermine’s departmentalization approach—designed to prepare students for middle school—is fully compatible with the 50–50 Dual Language model; in fact, the school has successfully implemented both simultaneously in the past. We urge the City, the Board of Education, and Silvermine leadership to act immediately to restore the Dual Language Program this year and to secure its protection in the upcoming budget cycle. Doing so will reaffirm Norwalk’s leadership in equitable, high-quality dual language education and help rebuild public confidence in transparent, community-driven decision-making. With appreciation and hope, The Parents and Community of Silvermine Dual Language Magnet School